Las Vegas is known for parties, drinking, and having a good time. With the reputation of the city and the number of boats in the area, it is no surprise that reckless antics are common on area lakes. Unfortunately, all too often the result is boat accidents and injuries. If you suffered injuries in one of these incidents, a Las Vegas boating accident attorney may be able to help.
At De Castroverde Accident Injury Lawyers, you can speak with a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer about your legal options today. We provide free consultations so you can learn about your rights and how to hold the at-fault parties responsible for your bills, losses, and injuries.
Las Vegas Boat Accidents Cause Serious Injuries and Significant Damages
The injuries possible in a boating accident vary based on the type of incident, the severity, and many other factors. Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and serious lacerations may be common. Other possible injuries include:
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Fractures
- Traumatic amputations
- Joint and soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
Our team knows how to build a case based on catastrophic injuries and their lasting effects, relatively minor injuries that require medical assessment and treatment, and anything in between. We also know how to document the long-term and lasting impacts of our client’s injuries. This could include missing work, changing careers, needing ongoing care and support help, or living a reduced quality of life.
If you incurred expenses and losses after an incident, a boating accident attorney in Nevada may be able to help you recover compensation for your damages. Our team of lawyers represents victims in these cases, seeking money damages for costs that include:
- Ambulance or medevac transportation to the hospital
- Medical bills from acute care and the initial stay
- Therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Ongoing or future care costs
- Loss of income from work, gigs, tips or commissions, and more
- Diminished earning capacity caused by lasting injuries
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic losses
Our team determines a fair settlement value for every case we handle. This allows us to know when an insurer is offering a fair payout and prevents our clients from accepting an offer that will not fully cover their medical care and other necessary expenses. The evidence we use to determine the potential settlement value of a case includes:
- Medical bills and related documentation
- Receipts for related goods and services
- Estimates for repairs or other proof of value for any damaged property
- Expert opinions about the client’s prognosis, care needs, and expected costs
- Our experience with similar cases and knowledge of the industry
If we need to sue and take the case to trial, we can also present this evidence to the judge and jury to demonstrate the damages our clients incurred because of the accident and their injuries.
Wrongful Death in a Las Vegas Boat Collision or Accident
If your loved one suffered catastrophic injuries in a Las Vegas boat accident but passed away before pursuing justice in their case, you may be able to seek compensation under Nevada’s wrongful death laws. Per NRS § 41.085, the “heirs of the decedent and/or the personal representatives of the decedent” can take civil action to hold the at-fault party responsible for their death.
Our Las Vegas wrongful death lawyers represent clients in these complex cases. We fight for the justice their family deserves after a tragic boat accident. We may be able to help them recover compensation that includes:
- Economic damages such as medical bills, funeral, and burial costs
- Loss of income and support
- Other damages their loved one could have recovered in a personal injury claim
- Damages for survivors’ grief, companionship, comfort, and consortium
We can discuss this type of case with you in detail during a free consultation with our team. We may be able to help your family hold the negligent party accountable and get justice for your lost loved one.
How Common Are Las Vegas Boating Accidents?
It may seem hard to believe, given its dry and arid reputation, but Nevada has more boat accidents than any other state per registered boat owner. According to a 2020 report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada averages almost 130 boat accidents per 100,000 registered boat owners per year. These accidents are serious enough to cause fatalities, injuries, or significant property damage.
Boating accident injuries can occur in many ways. We represent clients hurt in incidents such as:
- Collisions with other boats
- Passengers falling overboard
- Marina and dock accidents
- Onboard falls
- Collisions with smaller vessels
- Run-over accidents with swimmers and others in the water
- Propeller-strike incidents
Many boating accidents and injuries occur because of a boater’s negligence. Sometimes, this is because of inexperience or distraction. However, it can also occur because of drinking, drugs, or general recklessness. Occasionally, equipment failure can also play a role.
Boating accidents can occur anywhere there are watercraft on the water, but we commonly handle cases that occurred at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, on Lake Mohave, or Lake Las Vegas.
When our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys accept a case, we investigate to understand what happened, determine the factors that contributed to the accident, who acted negligently, and who is liable. This requires gathering and analyzing evidence and developing a strong argument to show an insurer, the liable party, or a judge and jury that our client deserves a fair payout based on the facts of the case.
A Boat Accident Lawyer Knows How to Prove Negligence and Liability
When our Nevada personal injury lawyers represent a client hurt on a lake in Las Vegas, we know we must show negligence and liability to recover compensation for them. Negligence is at the heart of most personal injury cases. It occurs when:
- One party owes a duty of care to another
- They breach this duty of care
- Their breach causes an accident
- The victim suffers harm
On Nevada lakes, boat operators must follow many rules and regulations meant to keep everyone on the water safe. This creates a duty of care to other boaters, swimmers, kayakers, and even the passengers on their boat. When they break one of these rules, it can cause a collision or other accident, and injuries may occur.
We investigate what happened to our client, including taking steps such as:
- Obtaining official reports filed by responding agencies
- Requesting relevant medical records
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Recreating accidents as needed
- Surveying the accident scene
- Working with experts to understand our client’s prognosis and care needs
- Gathering documentation of their damages
- Determining the identity of all potentially liable parties
- Identifying any insurance policies in effect
Once we have the evidence necessary to show what happened and who is legally responsible, we take steps to get justice on our client’s behalf. We look for insurance policies held by the negligent boat operator or other liable parties, determining our options for pursuing compensation for the client.
We can often demand a fair payout from an insurer, presenting strong support for the claim using the evidence we uncovered. In some cases, we may even have documentation from local law enforcement agencies that the boater was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the accident occurred. This can strengthen the case against them.
Even with strong evidence against their policyholder, the insurer does not want to pay out more than necessary. They may try to give us a lowball offer, reduce the amount owed to our client, or take other steps to pay less. We will counter their attempts at lowering the case value and may sue if needed. This could occur if:
- The insurer will not offer a fair settlement
- The boat owner or operator has no insurance coverage
- There are disputes about case facts
- There is an opportunity for punitive damages
- There is another reason our team believes it is necessary
Work with Our Nevada Boating Accident Lawyers
A Nevada boating accident attorney from our team may be able to help you hold the at-fault party accountable and recover compensation. We take every case seriously, no matter the potential value or other factors related to the case.
Every client receives one-on-one attention from their lawyer when we represent them. Our testimonials show our clients appreciate our compassionate team that treats clients like family while also working aggressively to win their cases.
Our team has more than 15 attorneys and 30 support staff. Most are fluent in English and Spanish, and we can represent clients who prefer to discuss their case in either language. We are here to help you understand your rights, legal options, and what to do next to get justice. We will fight for your best interests and the compensation you need and deserve based on the facts of your case.
Our lawyers work based on contingency fees and never charge our clients money upfront. We do not ask you to pay a retainer before we go to work on your case. Instead, we work based on a contract that we will receive a percentage of any settlement or other financial recovery we win on your behalf. We use our resources to build your claim and take action – we only get paid if you do.
Deadlines Approach Quickly for Filing a Boating Accident Lawsuit
Nevada law has strict deadlines for beginning a civil lawsuit, this includes boating accidents in Las Vegas. Under NRS § 11.190(4)(e), victims hurt in these accidents need to file their initial complaint in the applicable civil court before:
- Two years after the accident date for personal injuries
- Two years after the date of death for wrongful deaths
These deadlines are essential even though many of these cases settle outside of court. Failing to meet one of these deadlines will result in dire consequences for your rights and your ability to secure a fair payout. The court will likely bar you from filing the paperwork to begin a lawsuit. This will prevent you from going to trial and asking the judge and jury for a verdict and court award.
It could also affect your ability to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company or liable party. They want to avoid the expense and stress of going to trial as much as you do. Because of this, the threat of a lawsuit provides a lot of negotiating power for our attorneys. Once the deadline passes, we lose this leverage which makes it difficult to negotiate a better settlement offer.
Our lawyers like to get started quickly following an accident. This allows us to preserve evidence that might disappear later, such as video or even an eyewitness’ memory of the event. While it is not always true, we may be able to build a stronger case on your behalf when you enlist our help earlier. Reach out to our team as soon as your injuries are stable, and we can go to work.
Talk to a Las Vegas Boating Accident Attorney Today
At our Las Vegas headquarters, De Castroverde Accident Injury Lawyers develop boating accident claims for clients. We provide free initial consultations for those hurt in these incidents and pursue justice and compensation for them.
During your complimentary case review, we can explain your rights and the steps we may take to protect them. We may also outline a plan to pursue compensation for you based on the facts of your case. Contact us online or by phone today to get started, we are ready to take your call.